Circuit-closing device.



L'W.SMITH.

omcnrr CLOSING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 31, 1914.

1,1 33,448, Patented Mar. 30, 1915.

PI -I 1.222% Johgi 13 |NVENTUR- \aflmssszs: M BY ATTURNEY THE NORRIS PETERS co.. PHOTO'IJTHQ. WASH/NC mu, 1' c JOHN W. SMITH, OF YOUNGSTOVJN, OHIO.

CIRCUIT-CLOSING DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 30, 1915.

I Application filed August 31, 1914- Serialli'o. 859,318.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN citizen of the United States of resident of Youngstown, county of Mahoning, and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Circuit-Closing Devices, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates broadly to circuit closing devices, and specifically to a movable circuit closer for electric signal circuits and the like.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a pressure actuated circuit closing device which is particularly adapted for use in electric circuits in which a bell, buzzer, or like signaling device, is employed, and which is designed for concealment beneath rugs, carpets, or other floor coverings, without producing an objectionable bulge or hump in such covering.

A further objectv of the invention is to provide a device of the character mentioned, designed for use in dining rooms, ofiice rooms, and the like, for closing an electric signal circuit to another room, which device is not permanently attached to the floor and which may therefore be moved from place to place on said fioor, as convenience may require.

With these and other objects in view, the invention resides in the features of construction, arrangement of parts and combinations of elements which will hereinafter be fully described, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which- Fi ure 1 is an edge view of the invention disposed in position, as on a floor; Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the same; Figs. 3 and 4 are sections taken respectively on the lines 3-3, and l4[, Fig. 2; andFig. 5 is a perspective view of a socket plug adapted for use in connection with the invention.

Referring to said drawings, in which like designating characters distinguish like parts throughout the several views-1 indicates a thin metallic plate which is herein shown as rectangular in form, but which may be of any other suitable shape. Extending into said plate from one edge thereof is a slot 2 which is bridged by a thin, stifi' overlying plate or strip 3 of insulating material, as fiber, said plate or strip having its opposite ends mounted upon the upper surface W. SMITH, a America, and

of the plate 1 at opposite sides of said slot and being rigidly attached to said plate, as by attaching screws l. Said slot 2 communicates at its inner end with substantially central aperture 5 of suitable form and dimensions provided in said plate 1, said aperture being herein shown as substantially rectangular.

Projected into the aperture 5 from an adjacent portion of the plate 1, and prefe ably integral with the latter, is a resilient tongue 6, preferably of curved form, as shown in the drawings, which las its free end bent uoward and disposed over, but normally outof contact with, the inner end of a thin metal strip 7. Said strip 7 is carried by the plate or bridge 3, being rigidly attached to the under side of the latter, as by screws 8, and occupying a position in the slot 2 out of contact with plate 1.

Circuit wires have their terminals 9 and 10 connected to the plate 1 and strip 7, respectively, a suitable manner, as by clenching thereover small tongues 11 struck up from the metal composing said parts. 1-

While the opposite terminals 12 and 13 of said circuit wires may be connected with a source of electrical energy in any suitable manner, I prefer to provide plugs 14, of the general unobtrusive form illustrated in the drawings, adapted for seating in the sockets of a common form of flush plug receptacle employed on floors and walls, and to attach said terminals thereto, as shown.

As is obvious, the signal circuit is closed y pressing the free end of the resilient tongue 6 down into contact with the under lying strip 7. It will be noted that the thickness of the circuit closing device constructed in the hereinbefore described manner is very slight and that, therefore, when placed underneath a carpet or rug, the resultant bulge or swell produced in the latter is so slight as to be practically unnotice able.

The device may be readily transferred from place to place on the floor as necessity or convenience may suggest, it being retained in position only by the overlying floor covering.

What is claimed is 1. A circuit closer of the character described, comprising an apertured base plate having a resilient tongue projected into the aperture thereof and having a slot opening outward therethrough from said aperture, a metal strip lying within said slot and in: sulated from said plate, said tongue having its free end overlying and normally out of contact with said strip, said plate and said strip being adapted for having circuit terminals attached thereto.

2. A circuit closer of the character described, comprising an apertured base plate having a resilient tongue projected into the aperture thereof and having a slot opening outward therethrough from said aperture,-a strip of insulating material mounted on said plate in bridging relation to said slot, a strip of metal supported by said insulating strip and extending through said slot into said aperture, the inner end of said strip and the free end of said tongue being disposed in superposed relation and" normally out of contact, one with the other, the uppermost thereof being adapted to be pressed down into contact with the other, and means for attaching circuit terminals to said plate and to said metal strip.

8. A circuit closer of the character described, comprising an apertured base plate having resilient tongue projected into the aperture thereof and having a slot opening outward therethrough from said aperture, a bridge of insulating material overlying said slot and having its ends attached to said plate, a strip of metal attached to said bridge and lying in said slot, the inner end of said strip being disposedin underlying relation to said tongue, said tongue being upwardly inclined so as to normally remain out of contact with said strip and being adapted toxbe sprung downward by pressure applied thereto into contact with said strip, said plate and said strip beingadapted for having circuit terminals attached thereto.

L. It circuit closer of the character described, comprising an' apertured base plate having a resilien'ttongue projected into the aperture thereof'and havingaa slot opening outward therethrough from said aperture, a bridge ot'insulating-material overlying said slot and having its ends attached to said plate, a strip of metal attached to said bridge and lying insaid slot the inner end of said strip being disposed in underlying relation to said tongue, said-tongue being upwardlyinclined so as to normally remain out of contact with said strip and being adapted to be sprung downward by pressure applied thereto into contact with said strip, and struck-up tongues formed on said plate and on said strip adapted forreceiving circuit terminals thereunder.

In testimony whereof, I afiix my signature in presence of two-subscribing. Witnesses.

JOHN W. SMITH.

Witnesses PAUL H. MoELnvnr, JOHN'D. BoBnR'rsoN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the v Commissioner of Eatsnts,

Washington, I). U. 

